A 
A 

0 
0 
0 
9 
7 
4 

9 
4 
6 


QE 
747 
C3B55 


DESCRIPTION 

OF    THE 

FOSSILS  AND  SHELLS 

COLLECTED   IN   CALIFOBNIA 

BV 

WILLIAM  P.  BLAKE, 

GEOLOGIST  OF  THE    UNITED  STATES   PACIFIC   KAILROAD   SURVEY    I\    CALIFORNIA.    UNDER    THE 
COMMAND    OF    LIEUT.  R.  S.  WILLIAMSON,   IN   1853-54. 


WASHINGTON,    1855. 


. 

£ 


IEXI 


EXPLORATIONS   AND   SURVEYS   FOR   A   RAILROAD  ROUTE  FROM   THE  MISSISSIPPI 
RIVER   TO   THE   PACIFIC   OCEAN. — WAR  DEPARTMENT. 


APPENDIX 


WILLIAM  P.   BLAKE, 

GEOLOGIST  OF  THE  SURVEY  IN  CALIFORNIA  UNDER  THE  COMMAND  OF  LIEUT.  R.  S.  WILLIAMSON. 


PALEONTOLOGY. 


CONTENTS  OF  APPENDIX. 


ARTICLE  I.  Report  of  Mr.  T.  A.  CONRAD  on  the  fossil  shells  collected  in  California  by 
W.  P.  BLAKE,  geologist  of  the  expedition,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  R.  S. 
WILLIAMSON,  United  States  Topographical  Engineers,  1853 Page  5 

ARTICLE  II.  Catalogue  of  shells  collected  in  California  by  W.  P.  BLAKE,  with  descrip- 
tions of  the  new  species.  By  AUG.  A.  GOULD,  M.  D Page  22 

ARTICLE  III.  Notes  upon  silicified  plants  found  fossil  in  California.  By  W.  P.  BLAKE, 
with  a  letter  from  Professor  J.  W.  Bailey Page  28 

ARTICLE  IV.  Notice  of  the  fossil  fishes  found  in  California  by  WM.  P.  BLAKE,  geologist 
of  the  United  States  Pacific  railroad  survey,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  R.  S. 
WILLIAMSON,  United  States  Topographical  Engineers.  By  Louis  AGASSIZ Page  30 


APPENDIX. 


ARTICLE   I. 

REPORT  OF  MR.  T.  A.  CONRAD  ON  THE  FOSSIL  SHELLS  COLLECTED 
IN  CALIFORNIA  BY  WM.  P.  BLAKE,  GEOLOGIST  OF  THE  EXPEDITION 
UNDER  THE  COMMAND  OF  LIEUTENANT  R.  S.  WILLIAMSON,  UNITED 
STATES  TOPOGRAPHICAL  ENGINEERS.* 

PHILADELPHIA,  PA.,  January,  1855. 

SIR  :  I  have  examined  the  very  interesting  organic  remains  which 
you  collected  in  California,  and  the  drawings  of  such  species  as  were 
too  fragile  to  preserve,  and  I  herein  submit  a  few  remarks  upon  their 
geological  relations.  .There  appear  to  be  several  distinct  groups  ;  but 
I  cannot  pretend,  from  such  scanty  materials,  to  designate  what  partic- 
ular formation  every  group  represents.  There  is  no  obscurity  resting 
on  the  deposits  of  Santa  Barbara  and  San  Pedro,  which  represent  a 
recent  formation,  in  which  you  inform  me  the  remains  of  the  mammoth 
occur.  The  shells  are  generally  those  which  live  in  the  adjacent 
waters,  and  indicate  little,  if  any,  change  of  temperature  since  their 
deposition.  The  littoral  character  of  this  formation  is  very  evident. 
Water- worn  shells  and  fragments  show  the  action  of  the  surf,  whilst 
entire  specimens  of  bivalves,  and  Pholadidas,  and  Saxicavae,  remain- 
ing undisturbed  in  their  self-excavated  domicils,  exhibit  the  same  dis- 
position of  marine  shells  that  is  familiar  to  the  observer  on  all  sandy 
and  argillaceous  shores.  They  burrow  in  clay,  mud,  or  sand,  beyond 
the  ordinary  action  of  the  surf ;  whilst  some  are  scooped  out  by  the 
tempest-driven  surge,  and  others  preyed  upon  by  fishes  and  marine 
animals  of  various  kinds,  and  are  thus  broken  up  and  deposited 
among  the  living  species. 

Of  the  Eocene,  and  the  recent  formation  alluded  to,  I  can  speak 
with  confidence  ;  but  the  intermediate  beds  are  of  uncertain  age.  The 
Ostrea  vespertina,  Anomia  subcostata  and  Pecten  vespertinus,  occurring 
in  the  bank  of  Carrizo  creek,  are  unlike  any  recent  forms  that  I  am 
acquainted  with  from  the  Pacific  coast,  but  analagous  to  Miocene 
species  of  Virginia.  This  formation  may,  therefore,  be  regarded  as 
of  Miocene  origin — an  opinion  in  which  I  am  confirmed  by  some 

*  The  following  reports  on  the  fossil  and  recent  shells  were  not  received  in  season  to  be 
printed  in  connexion  with  the  author's  Preliminary  Geological  Report.  It  is  deemed  best  to 
present  these  now,  even  without  the  plates,  as  several  months  will  elapse  before  the  draw- 
ings can  be  finished  and  printed  for  the  4to  edition  now  preparing. 

W.  P.  BLAKE. 

JULY, 1855. 


6  H.  Doc.  129. 

fossils  collected  in  California  by  Dr.  Heermann,  consisting  of  decidedly 
Miocene  forms ;  a  Mercenaria,  (M.  perlaminosa,}  Con. ,  scarcely  differing 
from  a  species  of  Cumberland  county,  N.  J.,  (M.  Ducatelii,  Con.,)  a 
Cemoria,  Pandora  and  Cardita  of  extinct  species,  closely  analogous  to 
Miocene  forms.  I  am  inclined,  also,  to  refer  to  this  period  a  very 
different  group  from  Ocoya  creek,  the  forms  of  which  you  sketched  in 
California,  as  the  specimens  were  too  friable  to  be  preserved.  I  do 
not  recognize  any  recent  species  among  them,  nor  any  contained  in 
an  Eocene  deposit. 

The  rock  at  San  Diego  is  replete  with  shells,  generally  of  a  small 
size,  and  appears  to  have  a  certain  palasontological  relation  to  those  of 
Monterey,  Carmello,  and  those  in  boulder  specimens  of  Oregon,  col- 
lected by  Townsend  and  Dana,  which  I  have  referred  to  the  Miocene 
period.  Two  species  of  San  Diego,  if  not  identical,  approach  Oregon 
shells  ;  Nucula  decisa  is  similar  to  N.  divaricata,  and  both,  in  their 
markings,  resemble  N.  cobboldii  of  the  English  Miocene.  Mactra 
Diegoana  is  nearly  related  to  the  Oregon  M.  alboria. 

The  Eocene  period  is  unequivocally  represented  by  the  beautifully 
perfect  shells  from  the  Canada  de  las  Uvas,  which,  though  not  found 
in  situ,  are  evidently  derived  from  strata  occurring  on  the  Pacific 
slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada.  This  is  very  remarkable,  inasmuch  as 
three  species  correspond  with  forms  of  Claiborne,  Alabama,  and  seem 
to  indicate  a  connexion  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans  during  the 
Eocene  period.  The  vast  distance  between  the  two  localities  will 
account  for  the  general  distinction  of  species,  and  it  was,  indeed,  an 
unexpected  result  to  find  any  identical.  If  I  had  imagined  any  east- 
ern species  to  occur  in  California,  it  would  have  been  the  very  one 
which  does  occur,  and,  apparently,  in  abundance,  that  "finger-post" 
of  the  Eocene,  Cardita  planicosta,  a  fossil  of  the  Paris  basin,  and  also 
abundant  in  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  Alabama.  This  species  origi- 
nated and  perished  in  the  Eocene  period,  and  is  so  widely  distributed 
that  it  may  be  regarded  as  the  most  characteristic  fossil  of  its  era.  As 
the  boulder  from  which  these  shells  were  derived  was  quite  small,  and 
yet  furnished  thirteen  species,  when  it  shall  be  investigated  in  situ, 
doubtless  a  great  many  other  forms  will  be  obtained,  and  very  likely 
some  with  which  we  are  already  familiar  in  eastern  localities.  Al- 
though the  rock  is  a  very  hard  sandstone,  the  shells  may  be  exposed 
in  great  perfection  by  careful  management,  and  we  look  forward  with 
great  interest  to  their  further  development,  and  to  the  discovery  of 
the  rock  in  situ. 

Respectfully,  yours,  &c., 

T.  A.  CONRAD. 

WM.  P.  BLAKE,  Geologist  of  the  United  States 

Pacific  Eailroad  Survey  in  California. 


H.  Doc.  129. 


CATALOGUE. 

I.  EOCENE. 


No. 

Name. 

Locality. 

1 

2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 

15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
2:2 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 
44 
45 
46 
47 
48 
49 
50 
51 
52 

Canada  de  las  Uvas. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 

FORMATIONS. 

San  Diego. 
Do. 
Do. 
Monterey  county. 
Ocoya  creek. 
Tulare  valley. 
San  Diego. 
Monterey,  Carmello,  and  San  Diego 
San  Pedro. 
Tulare  valley  ? 
San  Pedro. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Carmello. 
San  Diego. 
Monterey  county. 
San  Pedro. 
Colorado  desert. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
San  Pedro,  (recent.) 
Do. 
Santa  Barbara. 
San  Diego. 
Do. 

J 

II.  MIOCENE  AND  RECENT 

Anomia  subcostata,  (nov   sp  )  Con  ............ 

Penitella  spelceum,  (nov.  sp.)  Con  

Fis^urella  crenulata      Sow..  ................. 

Crepidula  princeps,  (nov.  sp.)  Con  

Trochita  diejjoana,  (nov   sp.)  Con  

Nassa  intastriata,  (nov.  sp.)  Con.  ............. 

San  Pedro.                                         « 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Tulare  valley. 
Isthmus  of  Darien. 
Do. 
Do. 
Ocoya  or  Pose  creek. 
Do. 

Littorina  pedroana,  (nov.  sp.)  Con  

Gratelupia  mactropsis,  (nov.  sp.)  Con......... 

8 


H.  Doc.  129. 

II.  MIOCENE  AND  RECENT  FORMATIONS— Continued. 


No. 

Name. 

Locality. 

53 

54 

Do 

55 

Do 

56 

Do 

57 

Do 

58 

Do 

59 

Do 

60 

Do 

61 

Do 

62 

Do 

63 

Do 

64 

Solon  •  ••-         : 

Do 

65 

Do 

66 

Do 

67 

Do 

68 

69 

Do 

70 
71 

Turritella  biseriata,  (nov.  sp.  ?)  Con  

Do. 

72 

Do 

73 

Buccinum  intastriatum  '..........  »••* 

San  Pedro 

74 

75 

Oliva  pedroensis,  (nov.  sp.  ?)  Con  
Anodonta  Californiensis.     Lea  .      *  

Do. 

Colorado  desert 

H.  Doc.  129.  9 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  FOSSIL  SHELLS  FROM  THE  EOCENE  AND  MIOCENE 
FORMATIONS  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


I.   EOCENE. 

CARDIUM,  Lin. 

1.  c.  LINTEUM,  Conrad,  pi.  1,  fig.  1. — Cordate,  ventricose  subequi- 
lateral,  with  closely  arranged  radiating  lines,  umbonal  slope  subcari- 
nated  ;    posterior   submargin   with  closely  arranged   smooth   stride, 
fine,  but  much  larger  than  those  of  the  disk. 

Locality. — Canada  de  las  Uvas.     Allied  to  C.  Nicolleti,  Con.,  but 
very  distinct. 

DOSINIA,  Scopoli. 

2.  D.  ALTA,  Con.,   pi.  !_,  fig.   2. — Elevated  equilateral?    posterior 
side  short ;  disk  with  fine  closely  arranged  concentric  lines,  becoming 
large  towards  the  base  ;  posterior  extremity  obtuse,  direct. 

Locality. — Canada  de  las  Uvas,  with  the  preceding. 

MERETRIX,  Lam.    CYTHEREA,  Lam. 

3.  M.  UVASANA,  Con.,  pi.  l,fig.  3. — Suboval  convex,  inequilateral, 
margins   rounded  ;  beaks  distant  from  anterior  margin  ;  disk  with 
concentric,  rather  distant  ribs,  which  were  probably  laminiforrn  when 
perfect. 

Locality. — Canada  de  las  Uvas. 

There  is  but  one  broken  valve  of  this  species,  in  hard  sandstone 
and  with  the  ribs  broken  of. 

4.  M.  CALIFORNIANA,  Con.,  pi.   1,  fig.  4. — Subcordate,    ventricose, 
inequilateral ;  posterior  extremity  truncated  somewhat  obliquely  in- 
wards ;  basal  margin  nearly  straight  in  the  middle ;  lunule  lanceolate ; 
anterior  extremity  acutely  rounded. 

Locality. — Occurs  at  the  Canada  de  las  Uvas,  with  the  preceding 
species.     Allied  to  M.  Poulsoni,  Con. 

CRASSATELLA,  Lam. 

5.  c.   UVASANA,  Con., -pi.    1,  fig.  5. — Subtriangular,    compressed, 
concentrically  sulcated  above,  and  having  a  few  slight  concentric  un- 
dulations inferiorly  ;  ligament  slope  very  oblique,  rectilinear  ;  ante- 
rior extremity  regularly  rounded. 

Locality. — Canada  de  las  Uvas,  with  the  preceding  species. 

6.  c.  ALTA,  Conrad. — This  species  occurs  in  the  same   rock  with 
the  preceding,  but  only  in  small  fragments.     It  appears  to  have  been 
abundant,  as  it  likewise  is  at  Claiborne,  Alabama.     The  fracture  has 
resulted  from  breaking  the  rock,  as  the  shell  appears  to  have  been 
perfect  and  not  water- worn. 


10  H.  Dofc.  129. 

MYTILUS,  Lin. 

7.  M.    HUMERUS,  Con.,  pi.  1,  fig.    10. — Ovate,  ventricose,  summit 
acute  ;  anterior  margin  rectilinear  ;  basal  margin  rounded  ;  anterior 
extremity  obtusely  rounded  ;  posterior  extremity  less  obtuse  ;  disk 
with  minute  radiating  lines. 

Locality. — Canada  de  las  Uvas,  with  the  preceding  fossils. 

CARDITA,  Brug. 

8.  c.  PLANICOSTA,  pi.  1,  fig.  6. — Obliquely  cordate  ;  ribs  about  22, 
broad  and  flattened,  separated  by  a  narrow  groove  which  becomes  ob- 
solete towards  the  base ;  ribs  on  the  posterior  slope  narrow,  indistinct, 
and  crossed  by  numerous  profound  wrinkles.     Lunule  small,  cordate, 
profoundly  impressed  ;  inner  margin  crenate. 

Locality. — Canada  de  las  Uvas,  with  the  preceding  fossils.  Veneri- 
cardia  planicosta  Lam.  An.  Sans  Vert.  (Desh.  ed.)  vol.  vi.,  p.  381. 

This  common  species  occurs  much  larger,  though  less  perfect,  than 
the  one  represented.  This  shell  occurs  abundantly  in  the  Eocene 
strata  of  Maryland,  Virginia  and  Alabama,  and  is  quite  as  charac- 
teristic of  the  American  as  of  the  European  Eocene  period.  I  dis- 
covered it  in  Maryland  in  1829,  and  at  that  time  regarded  it  as  the 
first  indication  of  the  occurrence  of  deposits  in  the  United  States  syn- 
chronous with  those  of  the  London  clay.  Prof.  Kogers  has  since 
named  this  shell  Venericardia  ascia. 

NATICA,  Jdanson. 

9.  N.  (ETITES?    Con.,  pi.  1,  fig.  7. 

Locality. — Canada  de  las  Uvas,  with  the  preceding  fossils. 

N.  cetites,  Conrad. — Foss.  shells  of  Tert.  Form.     October,  1833. 

10.  N.  GIBBOSA  and  SEMILTJNATA,  Lea.  cont.  to  Geol.,  December,  1833. 
There  is  but  one  specimen  of  this  shell,  which  I  refer  with  doubt  to  a 
Claiborne  species.     The  outline  is  similar  to  that  of  the  latter,  but 
the  aperture  is  concealed  in  the  rock,  which  prevents  the  necessary 
comparison  to  determine  the  identity  or  the  difference. 

2  N.  ALVEATA,  Con.,  pi.  1,  fig.  8  and  8a. — Volutions  5,  flattened 
above,  carinated  on  the  angle,  a  few  minute  obsolete  lines  revolve  on 
the  upper  side  of  the  whorls  ;  aperture  inclining  to  an  obovate  form  ; 
umbilicus  small. 

Locality. — Canada  de  las  Uvas. 

This  species  is  remarkable  for  its  truncated  whorls,  which  are  chan- 
nelled by  the  carina  on  the  margin.  There  are  no  analogous  species 
in  the  Eocene  of  the  Atlantic  slope. 

TURRITELLA,  Lam. 

11.  T.  UVASANA,  Con.,  pi.   1,  fig.  12. — Subulate,  whorls  with  the 
sides  straight  and  oblique  above,  rounded  below,  and  having  large 
revolving  striae  with  intermediate  minute  lines ;  strife  near  the  suture 
on  the  upper  part  of  the  whorls  finer  than  the  prominent  lines  below. 

Locality. — Occurs  with  the  preceding,  in  Canada  de  las  Uvas. 


H.  Doc.  129.  11 

This  species  is  allied  to  T.  obruta,  Conrad,  (T.  lineata,  Lea.,)  but 
that  Clairborne  shell  differs  in  having  fewer  revolving  lines,  and  in 
being  indented  at  the  suture. 

VOLUTATITHES,  Strains. 

12.  v.  CALIFORXIANA,  Con.,  pi.   1,  fig.   9. — Resembles    V.  Say  ana, 
Con.,  but  smaller,  having  numerous  rounded  tubercles  instead  of  the 
comparatively  few  spiniform  ones  of  the  latter.     The  tubercles  are 
somewhat  oblique  ;  base  with  rather  distant  impressed  lines. 

Locality. — Canada  de  las  Uvas,  with  the  preceding. 

BUSYCON? 

13.  B.?  BLAKEI,  Con.,  pi.  1,  fig.  13. — Fusiform,  body  whorl  bicari- 
nated ;  shoulder  profoundly  tuberculated ;  tubercles  acute,  transversely 
compressed  ;  lower  angle  distant,  entire.    Surface  covered  with  rather 
fine  unequal  or  alternated  wrinkled  lines  ;  upper  side  of  the  whorls 
flattened  and  sloping ;  whorls  of  the  spire  angulated  and  tuberculated 
in  the  middle. 

Locality. — Cafiada  de  las  Uvas,  with  the  preceding. 

The  beak  of  this  shell  being  broken,  its  form  and  length  are  un- 
certain, and  the  aperture  being  concealed  in  the  rock,  the  generic 
character  can  only  be  inferred  from  the  contour  of  the  shell.  This 
corresponds  with  Busycon,  except  in  the  biangular  form  of  the  body 
whorl,  in  which  respect  it  differs  from  any  undoubted  species  that  I 
have  seen. 

CLAVATULA?  Swains. 

14.  c.?  CALIFORNICA,  Con.,  pi.  1,  fig.  11. — Fusiform  ;  spire  conical, 
volutions  rounded,  somewhat  flattened  above  ;  body  whorl  ventricose  ; 
beak  short  and  narrow. 

Locality. — Cafiada  cle  las  Uvas,  with  the  preceding  Allied  to  C. 
proruta,  Con.,  of  the  Claiborne  Eocene,  but  proportionably  narrower. 


II.    FOSSILS    OF    THE    MIOCENE    AND    RECENT   FORMA- 
TIONS OF   CALIFORNIA. 

CARDIUM,  Lin. 

15.  c.  MODESTUM,  (N.  S.,)  Con.,  pi.  2,  fig.  15. — Very  small;  ribs 
about  22,  narrow  ;  concentric  wrinkled  lines  on  the  disk  ;  posterior 
margin  direct,  truncated  ;  umbonal  slope  angular  ;  ligament  margin 
parallel  with  the  basal,  and  forming  nearly  a  right  angle  with  the 
posterior  margin. 

Locality. — San  Diego. 

NUCULA,  Lam. 

16.  N.  DECISA,  (N.  S.,)  Con.,  pi.  2,  fig.  19. — Suboval  or  sub-rhom- 
boidal,  posterior  margin  obliquely  truncated  ;  disk  with  devaricating 
striae. 

Locality. — San  Diego,  with  the  preceding. 


12  H.  Doc.  129. 

This  species  resembles,  in  its  divaricating  strise,  N.  divaricata  of 
the  Oregon  Miocene  ;  but  the  lines  are  proportionally  larger,  and  the 
shell  is  smaller  and  different  in  outline. 


CORBULA. 

17.  c.  DIEGOANA,  Con.,  pi.  2,  fig.  16. — Triangular,  ventricose,  in- 
equilateral, extremities  subangulated  ;  anterior  margin  very  oblique, 
rectilinear  ;  posterior  margin  forming  with  the  ligament  margin  a 
slightly  curved  line,  about  equal  in  obliquity  to  the  anterior  margin ; 
basal  margin  profoundly  and  nearly  equally  or  regularly  rounded. 

Locality. — Mission  of  San  Diego. 

MERETRIX,  Lam. 

18.  M.    UNIOMERIS,    Con.,    pi.    ii,    fig.    20. — Ovate,    very    inequi- 
lateral,   convex ;    posterior   side  cuneiform ;    ligament  margin  very 
oblique,  rectilinear  ;  posterior  extremity  truncated,  direct ;  beak  dis- 
tant from  anterior  margin. 

Locality. — Monterey  county,  18  miles  south  of  Tres  Pinos,  in  sand- 
stone. 

19.  M.  DECISA,  Con.,  pi.  ii,  fig.    27". — Subquadrate,    convex,  very 
inequilateral ;  ligament  slope  very  oblique,  nearly  straight ;  posterior 
extremity  truncated  ;  cardinal  and  lateral  teeth  robust.     (Cast.) 

Locality. — Ocoya  creek,  in  friable  ferruginous  coarse  sandstone. 
(For  the  associate  fossils,  see  plates  vi,  vii,  and  viii.) 

20.  M.  TULARANA,,  Con.,  pi.  ii,  fig.  22  and  22a. — Suboval  or  subtri- 
angular,  inequilateral  convex  anteriorly ;  compressed  and  cuneiform 
posteriorly,  anterior  extremity  acutely  rounded  and  as  nearly  in  a  line 
with  the  beak  as  the   base ;  basal  margin  tumid  medially  ;  posterior 
extremity  subtruncated. 

Locality. — Tulare  valley. 

[NOTE. — This  specimen  is  a  clay  cast,  and  was  found  in  a  boulder 
that  had  been  washed  down  from  the  hills  at  the  head  of  the  Tulare 
valley,  about  twenty  miles  west  of  the  Canada  de  las  Uvas. 

W.  P.  B.] 

TELLINA,  Lin. 

21.  T.  DIEGOANA,  Con.,  pi.  ii,  fig.  28. — Ovate-eliptical,  compressed, 
inequilateral,  concentrically  striated.     Slope  carinated  ;  posterior  ex- 
tremity suddenly  produced  or  rostrated,  and  below  the  posterior  basal 
margin. 

Locality. — San  Diego,  in  sandstone. 

22.  T.    CONGESTA,    Con.,    pi.    ii,    fig.    14,    18,    21. — Subtriangu- 
lar,  ventricose,  inequilateral ;  anterior  margin  obliquely  truncated  ; 
anterior  basal  margin  sub-rectilinear,  oblique,  extremity  angulated, 


H.  Doc.  129.  13 

much  above  the  line  of  the  base  ;  posterior  margin  and  posterior  basal 
'  margin  regularly  rounded. 

Localities. — Monterey  ;  Mission  of  San  Diego  ;  Carmello. 

This  interesting  species  is  very  abundant  at  Monterey,  in  indurated 
drab-colored  clay.  There  is  merely  a  chalky  trace  of  the  shell  re- 
maining. It  occurs  in  a  somewhat  similar  rock  at  Carmello,  and  in 
sandstone  at  San  Diego.  Figure  21  is  from  San  Diego;  22  from 
Monterey,  and  23  from  Carmello. 

23.  T.  PEDROA^A,  (N.  S.,)  Con.,  pi.  2,  fig.  17. — Subtriangular,  in- 
equilateral, compressed  ;  anterior  dorsal  margin  oblique,  rectilinear  ; 
anterior  extremity  truncated,  posterior  margin  regularly  rounded, 
basal  margin  subrectilinear. 

Locality. — San  Pedro.     Kecent  formation. 

A  thin  smooth  species,  of  which  only  one  valve  was  obtained. 

A  RCA,  Lin. 

24.  A.  MICRODONTA,  Con.,  pi.  2,  fig,  29. — Rhomboidal,  ventricose, 
thick  in  substance  ;  anterior  side  very  short ;  umbonal  slope  rounded. 
Bibs  25,  prominent,  narrow,  wider  posteriorly,  except  on  the  posterior 
slope,  where  they  are  small  and  not  prominent,  about  five  in  number. 
Cardinal  teeth  small,  numerous,  closely  arranged,  larger  towards  the 
extremities.     Inner  margin  profoundly  dentate  ;  dorsal  area  rather 
wide  and  marked  with  about  six  impressed  lines  ;  beaks  distant. 

Locality. — Tulare  valley?     Miocene. 

There  is  but  one  valve  in  the  collection,  and  it  has  some  resem- 
blance to  A.  arata,  Say,  of  the  Maryland  Miocene.  The  locality  is 
given  by  Mr.  Blake  with  a  mark  of  doubt. 

TAPES. 

25.  T.  DIVERSUM,  Sow.,  pi.  ii,  fig.  24,  24a,  and  26. — Obtusely  oval 
or  suborbiculary  ventricose,  inequilateral ;  disk  with  numerous  radiat- 
ing prominent  strise  or  ribs,  and  concentric  wrinkled  lines,  which  are 
profound  anteriorly  ;  posterior  margin  nearly  direct,  obtusely  rounded 
or  subtruncated  ;    inner  margin  with  small  crenulations  ;  ligament 
plate  broad  and  profoundly  indented. 

Locality. — San  Pedro,  in  calcareous  marl.     Eecent  formation. 

SAX1CAVA,  Fltur  de  Bell. 

26.  s.  ABRUPTA,  Con.,  pi.  ii,  fig.  25  and  25«. — Suboval,  ventricose, 
inequilateral  ;    concentrically   wrinkled ;    anterior   margin    obtusely 
rounded  obliquely  inwards ;    posterior  extremity  truncated,   direct, 
dorsal  and  basal  margin  nearly  parallel. 

Locality. — San  Pedro.     Recent  formation, 

PETRICOLA,  Lam. 

27.  P.  PEDROANA,  Con.,  pi.  ii,  fig.  23. — Elliptical,  profoundly  ine- 
quilateral, compressed,  undulated  concentrically,  and  with  very  minute 
closely-arranged  radiating  lines. 


14  H.  Doc.  129. 

Locality. — Occurs  with  the  preceding  shell.     Recent  formation. 

One  broken  valve  of  this  species  occurred  in  the  same  specimen  of 
rock  in  which  they  had  bored.  Some  specimens  of  the  Saxicava  are 
entire,  and  fill  the  cavities  they  have  formed,  when  living. 

SCHIZOTHCERUS,  Conrad. 

28.  s.  NUTTALLI,  Con.,  pi.  iii,  fig.  33  and  33a. — Ovate,  ventricose, 
gaping  widely  posteriorly ;  moderately  thick  in  substance ;  anterior 
side  short,  abruptly  rounded  at  the  extremity ;  posterior  side  elongated, 
extremely  truncated ;  dorsal  line  slightly  concave ;  umbo  not  promi- 
nent ;  basal  margin  profoundly  rounded ;  hinge-plate  broad,  cartilage 
pit  large,  obliquely  ovate,  profound ;  cardinal  teeth  in  the  left  valve 
two,  one  in  the  right  valve ;  anterior  cardinal  plate  broad,  with  an 
angular  depression  throughout  its  entire  length,  posterior  one  narrow, 
with  a  deep  angular  channel  in  which  is  a  bifid  plate  in  the  right 
valve;  cavity  of  shell  and  umbo  profound. 

Locality. — San  Pedro  in  calcareous  marl.  Recent  formation. —  W. 
P.  Blake. 

I  have  referred  this  shell  to  the  same  genus  in  which  I  placed 
Lutraria  Nuttalli  of  the  California  coast.  The  hinge  is  very  similar  to 
that  of  Lutraria,  but  the  long  deep  channels  of  the  hinge  are  similar 
to  those  of  L.  Nuttalli,  the  animal  of  which  differs  from  that  of  Lutraria. 
I  do  not  know  of  any  recent  species  of  the  latter  genus  in  California. 

LUTRARIA?  Lam. 

29.  L.  TRASKEI,  Con.,  pi.  iii,  fig.  30. — Suboval,  ventricose,  inequi- 
lateral, hinge  and  basal  margin  nearly  parallel ;  posterior  margin 
subtruncated  and  slightly  oblique,  or  approaching  a  direct  outline ; 
posterior  extremity  rounded. 

Locality. — Carmello.  Miocene?  (Received  from  John  B.  Trask, 
by  whom  it  was  collected. —  W.  P.  S.) 

MACTRA,  Lin. 

30.  M.  DIEGOANA,  Con.,  pi.  iv,  fig.  35. — Triangular  ventricose,  ine- 
quilateral, anterior  side  oblique,  rectilinear ;  umbonal  slope  carinated 
and  nearly  terminal ;  basal  margin  profoundly  and  regularly  rounded. 

Locality. — San  Diego.     Miocene? 

This  species  is  nearly  allied  to  M.  albaria  of  the  Oregon  Miocene, 
which  probably  belongs  to  the  same  rock  as  the  present  species.  The 
concentric  ridges  represented  in  the  figure  are  caused  by  weathering, 
as  the  disk  was  originally  smooth. 

MODIOLA,  Lam. 

31.  M.  CONTRACTA,  Con.,  pi.  iv,  fig  35. — Elongated,  narrowed,  an- 
teriorly,  contracted  submedially;    basal  margin  widely  contracted; 
disk  with  numerous  minute  radiating  lines. 

Locality. — Monterey  Co.,  18  miles  S.  of  Tres  Pimos.  Recent  forma- 
tion. 

A  portion  of  the  shell  remains,  showing  traces  of  fine  radiating 
lines.  Miocene? 


H.  Doc.  129.  15 

MYTILUS,  Lin. 

32.  M.  PEDROANUS,  Con. ,  pi.  — ,  fig.  40. — Oblong-subovate,  ventricose, 
dorsal  line  undulated  medially,  angle  rounded;  beak  projecting  slightly 
beyond  the  basal  margin ;  posterior  extremity  rounded ;  basal  margin 
rectilinear. 

'Locality, — San  Pedro.     Recent  formation. 

PECTEN,  Lin. 

33.  P.  DESERTI,  Con.,  pi.  — ,  fig.  41. — Suborbicular,  both  valves 
convex;  ribs  about  23,  rounded,  somewhat  flattened  toward  the  base, 
about  as  wide  as  the  interstices ;  in  the  lower  valve  much  wider  than 
the  interstices,  and  the  valve  more  convex  than  the  opposite  one ;  ears 
equal  in  the  upper  valve ;  left  ear  of  lower  valve  extended  downwards 
and  very  obliquely  striated;  cartilage  pit  profound;  a  submarginal 
channel  parallel  with  the  upper  margin. 

Locality, — Carrizo  creek,  Colorado  desert.     Miocene. 

ANOMIA,  Lin. 

34.  A.  SUBCOSTATA,  Con.,  pi.  — ,  fig.  34. — Obtusely  ovate,  thick  in 
substance,  umbo  of  larger  valve  ventricose,  hinge  thickened ;  surface 
of  this  valve   obtusely   undulated   concentrically  and   marked  with 
waved,  wrinkled,  very  irregular  interrupted  ribs,  not  much  raised 
except  toward  the  base,  where  they  are  larger  and  somewhat  tuberculi- 
form,  upper  valve  entire,  or  with  obsolete  radii  toward  the  base. 

Locality. — Carrizo  creek,  Colorado  desert.     Miocene. 
Allied  to  A.  Ruffinl  of  the  Virginia  Miocene,  but  thicker,  less  ex- 
panded, and  with  the  radii  more  numerous  and  more  rib-like. 

OSTREA,  Lin. 

35.  o.  VESPERTINA,  Con.,  pi.  — ,  figs.  36,  37,  38. — Ovate,  subfalcate, 
lower  valve  plicated  or  ribbed  more  or  less  profoundly;  hinge  long  and 
wide,  sharp  and  somewhat  pointed ;  ligament  cavity  wide,  profound, 
minutely  wrinkled ;  margins  abrupt ;  cavity  not  very  deep ;  muscular 
impression  large,  impressed ;  upper  valve  flat,  irregular,  plicated  on 
the  margin;  a  submarginal  furrow,  slightly  impressed,   crenulated 
nearly  to  its  basal  curve,  profoundly  crenulated  towards  the  hinge. 

Locality. — Carrizo  creek.     Miocene. 

0.  vespertina.  Con.  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.,  new  series,  vol  2,  part  4, 
p.  300. 

This  species  is  very  similar  in  form  and  plications  to  0.  subfalcata, 
Con.,  of  the  Virginia  Miocene. 

36.  o.  HEERMANI,  Con.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.,  Philadelphia. — Very  irregu- 
lar in  form,  thick,  ovate  and  often  dilated ;  lower  valve  shallow ;  ex- 
terior very  irregular,  with  large  distant  angular  radiating  ribs,  and 
with  pits,  irregular  cavities ;  cartilage  pit  broad  and  oblique ;  upper 
valve  flat  or  concave,  with  a  profoundly  irregular  surface.     Length 
5f  inches,  height  6^  inches. 

Locality. — Carrizo  creek,  Colorado  desert.     Dr.  Heermann. 


16  H.  Doc.  129. 

This  large  oyster  shell  probably  belongs  to  the  same  deposit  which 
contains  0.  vespertina  and  Anomia  subcostata.  The  surfaces  of  most 
specimens  have  a  resemblance  to  worm-eaten  wood,  having  been  evi- 
dently sculptured  by  some  marine  animal.* 

PENITELLA.  ^ 

37.  P.  SPELCEUM,  Con.,    pi.  — ,  43,  43a,   43&. — Ovate,    ventricose, 
anteriorly  inflated  with  fine  radiating  lines  and  transverse  wrinkles, 
transverse  furrow  medial,  angular,  slightly  oblique;  posterior  side 
cruneiforrn,  truncated  at  the  extremity,  which  is  direct,   and  with 
prominent,   acute,   wrinkled  concentric   lines;    front   dorsal  margin 
widely  recurved,  trisulcate;    cardinal   plate  broad,  sulcated  process 
slender,  direct. 

Locality. — San  Pedro.     Recent  formation. 

No  trace  of  the  coriaceous  cup,  characteristic  of  this  genus,  remains 
in  the  collection.  It  is  widely  distinct  from  the  recent  species  of  the 
California  coast,  P.  jpenita,  Conrad. 

FISSURELLA,  Lam. 

38.  F.  CRENULATA,  Sow.,  pi.  — ,  fig.  44. — Oblong  subovate,  slightly- 
contracted  laterally  opposite  the  foramen .    Shell  with  numerous  radia- 
ting conspicuous  compressed   lines ;    foramen   large,    subovate,   not 
nearly  central ;    inner  margin  crenulated,  thickened   basal   margin 
sinous  ;  inner  margin  of  foramen  broadly  callous  ;  cavity  profound. 

F.  crenulata,  Sowerby,  Zankerville  catalogue. 

Locality. — San  Pedro.  Recent  formation.  This  is  the  largest  fossil 
species  I  have  seen. 

CREPIDULA,  Lam.    CRYPTA,  Humph. 

39.  c.  PRINCEPS,  Con.,  pi.  — ,  fig.  52. — Oblong,  ovate,  thick  and 
ponderous,  contracted  or  compressed  superiorly  ;  upper  side  or  por- 
tion of  the  shell  sloping  ;  back  regularly  rounded  ;  beak  prominent, 
rounded,  laterally  curved  ;  apex  distant  from  the  margin  of  the  aper- 
ture ;  diaphragm  very  large,  with  a  very  sinuous  margin. 

Locality. — Santa  Barbara.     Recent  formation. 

This  is  the  largest  species  that  has  come  under  my  observation,  and 
is  very  distinct  from  any  that  has  yet  been  described. 

NARICA. 

40.  N.  DIEGOANA,  Con.,pl. — ,  fig.  39. — Subglobose,  sides  flattened; 
obtuse  above. 

Locality. — San  Diego.     Miocene? 

Partially  embedded  in  the  rock  and  its  form  not  accurately  de- 
termined. 

*  These  specimens  were  picked  up  by  Dr.  Heerman  in  the  bed  of  the  creek,  and  were  un- 
doubtedly derived   from  a  portion  of  the  stratum  of  shells  that  I  found   in  situ. 

W.  P.  BLAKE. 


H.  Doc.  129.  17 

TROCHITA,  Schum. 

41.  T.  DIEGOAXA,  Con.,  pi.  — ,  fig.  42. — Conical ;  volutions  three, 
rounded,  smooth  ;  body  whorl  ventricose. 

Locality. — Occurs  with  the  preceding.     Miocene? 

CRUCIBULUM,  Shum. 

42.  c.  SPIXOSUM,  Con.,  pi.  — ,  fig.  46. — Moderately  elevated,  suhoval, 
armed  with  numerous  prominent  spines  in  radiating  series  ;  spines 
smaller,  and  the  series  more  closely  arranged  anteriorly  ;  apex  sub- 
central?  prominent,  acute  ;  shell  with  concentric  wrinkles. 

Calyptrcea  spinosa  ? — Soiuerby. 

Locality. — San  Diego?     Recent  on  the  coast  of  Peru. 

NASSA,  Lam. 

43.  x.  IXTASTRIATA,  Con.,  pi.  — ,  fig.  49. — Ovate-acute;  whorls  5£ 
rounded,  cancellated  ;  longitudinal  strife  nodulous,  except  towards 
the  base  of  body  whorl ;  a  deep  sulcus  behind  the  beak,  two  upper 
volutions  entire  ;  labrum  striated  within  ;  spire  conical,  longer  than 
the  aperture. 

Locality. — San  Pedro.     Recent  formation. 

The  surface  of  this  shell  is  roughened  by  a  tubercle  on  the  longi- 
tudinal, at  each  intersection  of  the  revolving  lines. 

44.  x.  PEDROAXA,  Con.,  pi.  — ,  fig.  48. — Subfusiform,   smooth;  vo- 
lutions rounded,  spire  conical,  longer  than  the  aperture,  which  is  ellip- 
tical ;  columella  very  regularly  concave. 

Locality. — Occurs  with  the  preceding.     Recent  formation. 

This  small  species  resembles  Nassa  lunata,  Say,  as  the  preceding 
approximate  N.  trivittata,  Say.  This  is  very  remarkable,  as  the  two 
latter  are  recent  shells  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  associated  with  each 
other,  both  in  the  sea  and  in  the  Miocene  deposits  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland. 

STREPHONA,  Broicne.     OLIVA,  Lam. 

45.  s.  PEDROAXA,   Con.,  pi.   — ,   fig.   51. — Small,  elliptical;  spire 
conical,  about  equal  in  length  to  the  aperture ;  base  of  columella  with 
a  prominent  fold. 

Locality. — Occurs  with  the  preceding.     Recent  formation. 

A  small  abundant  species,  sometimes  water- worn,  without  any  pro- 
minent character,  except  the  fold  at  the  base  which  is  more  conspicuous, 
considering  the  size  of  the  shell,  than  is  usual  in  the  genus. 

LITTORINA,  Ferr. 

46.  L.  PEDROAXA,  Con.,  pi.  — ,  fig.  50. — Suboval;  spire  very  short; 
body  whorl  abruptly  rounded  above;  aperture  obliquely  subovate. 

Locality. — Occurs  with  the  preceding.     Recent  formation. 

STRAMONITA,  Shum.    PURPURA,  Lorn. 

47.  s.  PETROSA,  Con.,  pi.  — ,  fig.  47  and  47«. — Subglobose;  whorls 
4,  subangulated ;  body  whorl  with  3  revolving  rows  of  distant  tuber- 


18  H.  Doc.  129. 

1 

cles,  and  flattened  at  the  summit.     Spire  conical ;  penultimate  whorl 
with  one  series  of  tubercles. 

Locality. — Tulare  Valley.  (Found  with  Meretrix  Tularana,  Con., 
pi.  ii,  fig.  22  and  32a.  Both  specimens  are  clay  casts,  hut  very 
perfect.—  W.  P.  5.) 

III.  TERTIARY  SHELLS  OF  THE  ISTHMUS  OF  DARIEN. 

MIOCENE : 

Mr.  Blake  has  forwarded  me  casts  of  three  bivalves.  They  are 
forms  which  are  new  to  me,  and  probably  Miocene  species.  The 
Gratelupia,  except  in  being  truncated  posteriorly,  much  resembles  G '. 
Hydeana,  Conrad,  an  Eocene  fossil. 

GRATELUP1A?  Desmoulins. 

48.  G. ?  MACTIIOPSIS,  Con.,  pi.  — ,  fig.  54. — Triangular,  inequila- 
teral; dorsal  margins  equally  oblique,  straight;  basal  margin  rounded 
anteriorly,  slightly  curved,  posteriorly,  posterior  extremity  truncated, 
direct,  considerably  above  the  line  of  the  base. 

Locality. — Isthmus  of  Darien. 

MERETRIX. 

49.  M.  DABIENA,  Con.,  pi.  — ,  fig.  55. — Obtusely  and  obliquely  sub- 
ovate;  ventricose;  inequilateral;    anterior  extremity   angulated   and 
situated  much  nearer  the  beak  than  the  base;  anterior  dorsal  line 
straight  and  oblique ;  beak  not  prominent ;  basal  and  posterior  mar- 
gins profoundly  rounded. 

Locality. — Occurs  with  the  preceding. 

TELLIIVA,  Lin. 

50.  T.  DARIENA,  Con.,  pi.  — ,  fig.  53. — Subtriangular,  compressed; 
anterior  hinge-margin  rectilinear,  very  oblique,  extremity  truncated, 
direct;  posterior  extremity  regularly  rounded ;  base  moderately  curved. 

Locality. — Occurs  with  the  preceding. 

IV.  MIOCENE  FOSSILS  FROM  OCOYA  CREEK. 

The  following  are  descriptions  of  some  of  the  fossils  from  Ocoya 
creek,  (Pose  creek,)  which  occur  only  as  casts.  The  collection  con- 
tains many  of  these  casts,  but  the  descriptions  are  principally  based 
upon  the  drawings  made  at  the  locality  by  Mr.  Blake. 

NATICA. 

51.  N.  OCOYANA,  Con.,  pi.  vi,  fig.  57. — Spire  conical,  volutions  three 
or  four,  rounded  on  the  sides,  depressed  above ;  body  whorl  very  wide, 
depressed. 

Locality. — Ocoya  creek. —  W.  P.  Blake. 

52.  N.  GENICULATA,  Con.,  pi.  vi,  fig.  6*7. — Globose,  volutions  angu- 
lated above :   spire  short,  conical ;   body  whorl  contracted  near  the 
summit. 

Locality. — Ocoya  creek. —  W.  P.  Slake. 


H.  Doc.  129.  19 

Resembles  N.  alveata,  Con.,  of  the  California  Eocene.     (See  p.  10.) 

BULLA. 

53.  B.  JUGULARIS,  Conrad,  pi.  vi,  fig.  62,  62a,  62ft. — Oblong  elon- 
gated, much  contracted  toward  the  apex;  acutely  rounded  at  the  base. 

Locality. — Ocoya  creek. —  W.  P.  Blake. 

PLEUROTOMA. 

54.  P.  TRAXSMONTANA,  Conrad,  pi.  vi,  fig.  69. — Fusiform,  with  ru- 
gose revolving  lines  and  distant  short  longitudinal  undulations  on  the 
body  whorl ;  volutions  of  the  spire  rounded;  longitudinally  undulated. 

Locality. — Ocoya  creek. —  W.  P.  Blake. 

55.  P.    OCOYANA,   Conrad,   pi.   vi,    fig.    71. — Short   fusiform  body, 
whorl  ventricose,  contracted  near  the  suture,  surface  marked  with  re- 
volving lines  and  numerous  longitudinal  furrows. 

Locality. — Ocoya  creek. —  W.  P.  Blake. 

SYCOTOPUS. 

56.  s.  OCOYANUS,  Conrad,  pi.  vi,  fig.  72. — Spire  depressed;  whorls 
flattened  above  ;  shoulder  sub-angulated,  sides  somewhat  flattened, 
columella  profoundly  rounded  above  and  concave  below. 

Locality. — Ocoya  creek. —  W.  P.  Blake. 

TURRITELLA. 

57.  T.  OCOYANA,  Conrad,  pi.  vii,  figs.  73,  73a,  73ft. — Volutions  13 
or  14,  straight  at  the  sides,  rounded  at  base,  and  having  well  marked 
revolving  lines,  base  broad;  volutions  suddenly  tapering  to  the  apex. 

Locality. — Ocoya  creek. —  W.  P.  Blake. 

COLUS. 

58.  c.  ARCTATUS,  Conrad,  pi.  vii,  fig.  76. — Narrow  fusiform  whorls 
rounded ;  beak  very  slender,  somewhat  sinuous. 

Locality. — Ocoya  creek,  Cal. —  W.  P.  Blake. 

TELLINA. 

59.  T.  OCOYANA,  Conrad,  pi.  vii,  fig.  75.— Elliptical  compressed  in- 
equilateral ;  posterior  extremity  acutely  rounded,  much  above  the  line 
of  the  base ;  anterior  end  somewhat  acutely  rounded ;  cardinal  teeth 
robust. 

PECTEN. 

60.  p.  NEVADANTJS,  Conrad,  pi.  vii,  fig.  77.     Ovate,  flat  or  slightly 
concave;  ribs  17?  large,  flattened  on  the  back;  interstices  strongly 
wrinkled  transversely. 

This  shell  is  so  much  nearly  allied  to  N.  Humphreysii  of  Maryland, 
that,  taken  in  connexion  with  P.  Catittifornis,  pi.  viii,  it  may  be 
regarded  as  a  Miocene  species.  The  strata  in  which  they  occur  maj 
safely  be  referred  to  that  period. 

Locality. — Ocoya  creek. —  W.  P.  Blake. 


20  H.  Doc.  129. 

61.  P.  CATILLIFORNIS,  Conrad,  pi.  viii,  fig.  83. — Orbicular  plano- 
convex, with  radiating  stride  and  distinct  rounded  ribs;  ears  equal. 

Locality. — Ocoya  creek. —  W.  P.  Slake. 

This  large  Pecten  has  such  a  general  resemblance  to  P.  Madisonius, 
Say,  of  the  Virginia  Miocene,  that  I  have  no  doubt  it  existed  at  the 
same  period,  or  at  least  after  the  Eocene.  There  is  none  such  now 
living  on  the  coast  of  California,  and  none  in  the  Eocene,  of  this  group 
of  large  Pectens,  which  occur  almost  everywhere  in  the  Miocene 
deposits  of  the  Atlantic  slope. 

In  addition  to  the  above  described  species,  there  are  many  specimens 
and  drawings  in  which  the  specific  characters  are  not  preserved  with 
sufficient  distinctness  for  description.  Among  these  are  individuals 
of  the  genera  Cardium?  or  Area,  Solen,  Dosinia  and  Venus. 


REMARKS    IN    CONCLUSION. 


BT    W.    P.    BLAKE. 


From  this  report  by  Mr.  Conrad,  we  find  that  in  the  collection  of 
61  determinable  species,  55  are  new  and  are  now  described  for  the  first 
time.  Of  these,  10  are  from  one  locality  at  the  southern  extremity  of 
the  Tulare  valley,  at  the  entrance  to  the  pass  called  the  Canada  de 
las  Uvas.  They  are  considered  to  be  of  the  age  of  the  Eocene  by 
Mr.  Conrad,  who  notes  the  similarity  between  three  of  the  species  and 
those  of  the  Alabama  Eocene  deposits  at  Claiborne. — (See  Mr.  Con- 
rad's letter.)  These  fossils  were  imbedded  in  a  boulder  of  compact 
sandstone  that  had  been  washed  out  of  the  ravine  of  the  pass  by  floods. 
The  rock  was  not  found  in  situ  at  that  point,  but  a  few  miles  to  the 
westward  a  similar  rock  occurs  in  place,  and  is  replete  with  fossils. 
These  are  believed  to  be  the  first  fossils  of  Eocene  age  that  have  been 
procured  from  the  Pacific  slope  of  the  United  States. 

The  sedimentary  formations  of  Ocoya  creek  (Pose  creek)  are  con- 
sidered to  be  of  the  age  of  the  Miocene,  and  twelve  new  species  from 
that  locality  are  described.  There  were  numerous  specimens  of  other 
species  in  the  collection,  which  were  not  sufficiently  characteristic  for 
determination,  but  which  are  probably  new.  Eight  new  species  of 
Miocene  shells  are  described  from  San  Diego,  and  ten  of  a  more  recent 
formation  from  San  Pedro.  These  last  occur  in  a  bank  fronting  the 
bay,  and  which  is  partly  undermined  by  the  surf.  This  bank  is  filled 
with  shells,  and  the  principal  stratum  is  about  30  feet  above  tide. 

The  fossils  from  the  sandstones  along  Carrizo  creek,  near  the  point 
where  it  spreads  out  and  is  lost  in  the  desert,  are  all  new  and  of  Mio- 
cene age. 

The  Miocene  formation  appears,  therefore,  to  flank  the  Peninsula 
Sierra  on  both  sides  in  the  latitude  of  San  Diego,  and  to  underlie  the 
alluvial  deposits  or  delta  of  the  Colorado.  There  is  a  remarkable  dif- 
ference in  the  appearance  of  the  fossils  on  the  east  and  west  sides  of 
this  chain.  Those  on  the  desert  side  form  a  stratum  four  or  five  feet 
thick  of  shells  alone,  consisting  almost  wholly  of  the  genera  Ostrea, 


H,  Doc.  129.      .  21 

Anomia  and  Pecten ;.  while  on  the  west  side,  bordering  the  Pacific, 
there  is  a  greater  variety  of  genera  and  species  ;  shells  of  the  genera 
Cardium,  Nucula,  Corbula,  Tellina,  Mactra,  Naricaand  Trochita  being- 
abundant.  An  interesting  relationship  between  the  existing  and  fossil 
shells  of  the  Gailf  side  of  the  chain  is  indicated,  and  it  is  probable 
that  the  crest  of  the  chain  divided  the  waters  of  the  Gulf  and  the 
Pacific  during  the  Miocene  era. 

At  the  pass  of  San  Fernando,  between  Los  Angeles  and  the  gra- 
nitic mountains,  the  sandstone  strata  contain  numerous  fossils,  and 
fragments  of  shells  belonging  to  the  genera  Ostrea,  Pecten,  and 
Turritella  were  procured.  These,  being  imperfect,  have  not  been 
specifically  described  by  Mr.  Conrad. 

At  Navy  Point,  Benicia,  I  obtained  several  casts  of  shells  in  an  im- 
perfect state,  and,  also,  a  small  shark's  tooth.  The  shells  were  pro- 
bably of  the  genera  Trochus  and  Turritella.  Numerous  specimens  of 
lignite  were  also  found  at  that  place,  imbedded  in  the  compact  sand- 
stone. 

At  San  Francisco,  on  the  west  side  of  the  peninsula,  near  the 
lagoon  on  the  beach,  numerous  specimens  of  fossil  Spatangi  are 
thrown  up  by  the  surf.  They  are  inclosed  in  a  matrix  of  bluish-green 
sand,  resembling  in  color  and  composition  the  blue  sandstone  of  the 
bay.  It  is,  however,  more  friable,  and  seems  to  consist  of  the  debris 
of  the  strata. 

The  town  of  Monterey  is  built  over  the  line  of  junction  of  the 
granite  of  Point  Pinos,  with  an  extensive  series  of  tertiary  strata,  re- 
markable for  containing  immense  deposits  of  the  remains  of  Infusoria. 
These  remains  form  white  beds  of  siliceous  earth,  intercalated  with 
semi-opaline  strata  of  a  very  compact  texture.  They  are  now  up- 
raised nearly  500  feet  above  the  water  of  the  bay.  Portions  of  the 
underlying  strata — those  in  which  the  Tellina  congesta,  Con.,  occurs 
so  abundantly — are  also  charged  with  small  chambered  shells,  (Poly- 
thalamia,  Foraminifera  of  D'Orbigny,)  and  offer  a  rich  treat  to  the 
micro-geologist.  With  the  aid  of  a  glass  thousands  of  these  little 
shells  can  be  seen  on  the  fractured  surfaces  of  the  rock. 

From  this  report,  and  the  preceding  remarks,  it  will  be  seen  that 
fossils  in  sufficient  numbers  to  determine  the  geological  age  of  the  de- 
posits in  which  they  occur  have  been  obtained  from  many  and  dis- 
tant points  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

The  occurrence  of  Eocene  strata  at  one  point  has  been  satisfactorily 
established.  We  also  find  that  the  Miocene  division  of  the  tertiary 
formations  is  extensively  developed,  over  broad  areas,  in  California, 
flanking  nearly  all  the  great  lines  of  elevation,  not  only  in  the  coast 
mountains,  but  in  the  interior,  along  the  borders  of  the  San  Joaquin 
and  Tulare  valleys.  Further  observations  are  required  to  connect, 
chronologically,  the  Miocene  deposits  along  Ocoya  creek  with  the  ex- 
tensive, and  in  many  respects  similar,  strata  further  north,  along  the 
Tuolumne  and  Stanislaus  rivers. 


22 


H.  Doc.  129. 


ARTICLE   II. 


CATALOGUE  OF  SHELLS  COLLECTED  IN  CALIFORNIA  BY  W.  P.  BLAKE 
WITH  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  THE  NEW  SPECIES,  BY  AUGUSTUS  A. 
GOULD,  M.  D. 

The  collection  consists  of  fresh-water  shells  from  the  Colorado  desert 
and  other  localities ;  and  of  marine  shells  from  the  coast  between  San 
Francisco  and  San  Diego.  The  new  species  are  indicated  in  the  cata- 
logue by  an  asterisk.  (*) 

CATALOGUE. 


No. 

Name. 

Locality. 

1 

2 

Do 

3 

Pecten  (3)  

Do 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

Tapes  grata,  Say,  T.  discors.,  Sowb.,  (straminea, 

San  Pedro. 

g 

Do 

10 

H 

1° 

13 

Do 

14 

Do 

15 

San  Diego. 

Ifi 

San  Pedro. 

17 

San  Diego. 

18 

Petricola   cylindracea,    Desh,    (P.  carditoides, 

19 

•>n 

Colorado  Desert. 

91 

San  Francisco. 

99 

San  Pedro. 

93 

Lottia  in  it  IM  .  Brod  

Do. 

94 

Caly  ptrea  hispida,  Brod  

San  Pedro  —  San  Diego. 

95 

Crepidula  incurva,  Brod  

San  Pedro. 

<>fi 

Bulla  nebulosa,  Gould  

San  Dieo'o. 

9,7 

Bulla  (Haminea^  virescens,  Sow  

Do. 

98 

*Bulla  (Haminea)  vesicula,  Gould  

Do. 

99 

*Bulla  (Tornatina)  inculta,  Gould  

Do. 

30 

Do. 

31 

Do. 

39 

Littorina,  (undetermined).  

33 

Melampus,  (undetermined)  

Do. 

34 

San  Pedro. 

35 

*Potamis  pullatus,  Gould  

San  Diego. 

3fi 

Colorado  Desert. 

37 

*Amnicola  longinnua.,  Gould  

Do. 

38 

*Planorbis  ammon,  Gould.  

Colorado  Desert  —  Ocoya  Creek. 

39 

*Physa  humerosa,  Gould  

Colorado  Desert. 

4(1 

Succinea,  (undetermined)  

Ocoya  Creek. 

H.  Doc.  129.  23 

The  following  are  descriptions  of  species  believed  to  be  new.  Two 
or  three  species  are  left  undetermined  in  consequence  of  the  specimens 
being  imperfect,  or  the  means,  for  deciding  being  deficient : 


FOSSIL    FRESH-WATER   SHELLS   FROM    THE    COLORADO 

DESERT. 

PHYSA  HUMEROSA,  Gould. 

T.  solidula,  subrhomboidea,  polita;  spira  acuta,  anfractibus  5  tabu- 
latis;  apertura  \  ad  f  long,  test  adequans,  portice  obtusa;  labro 
expanse,  columella  vix  plicata. — PI.  — ,fig.  — . 

Shell  rather  large  and  solid,  subrhomboidal,  polished  ;  all  the 
specimens  seen,  (quite  numerous,  and  apparently  not  weathered,} 
porcelain  white.  Whorls  five,  each  with  a  broad  square  shoulder, 
and  forming  an  elevated,  acute  spire,  aperture  usually  about  two- 
thirds  the  length  of  the  shell,  sometimes  but  little  over  one-half ;  pos- 
terior angle  obtusely  rounded  ;  outer  lip  slightly  flaring ;  when 
viewed  in  profile  it  is  slightly  advanced  posteriorly  so  as  to  form  a 
recess  at  the  junction  ;  pillar  without  any  conspicuous  fold,  thickly 
covered  with  enamel,  broadly  rounded  and  expanded  at  the  base. 
Umbilical  region  nearly  perforate. 

Length  on  an  ordinary  specimen,  half  an  inch ;  breath,  three-eighths 
of  an  inch  ;  length  of  a  variety,  seven-tenths  of  an  inch. 

Found  in  the  Colorado  desert,  by  W.  P.  Blake,  also  at  Pecos  River, 
by  Dr.  T.  H.  Webb. 

The  broadly  tabulated  whorls,  with  the  acute,  elevated  spire  and 
folded  pillar,,  clearly  distinguish  this  species.  P.  tabulata,  Gould, 
from  New  Zealand,  is  similar,  as  well  as  some  varieties  of  P.  ancilla- 
ria,  Say,  as  figured  by  Haldeman,  especially  his  figure  7,  wbich  he 
designates  as  a  monstrosity  ;  but  the  spire  is  more  elevated,  and  the 
deep  suture  always  renders  the  whorls  distinct,  and  the  absence  of  a 
columellar  fold  is  a  still  further  distinctive  mark.  It  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  distinguish  the  young  by  themselves  from  several  other  species, 
though  they  begin  to  show  the  angularity  of  the  whorls  quite  early. 

PLANORBIS  AMMON,  Gould. 

T.  magna,  discoidea,  subconica,  subtiliter,  striata ;  latere  sinistro- 
late  et  profunde,  concaio,  anfractus  quatuor  obtuse  angulatos  exhibente ; 
latere  dextro  excavate,  anfractus  duos  cum  dimidis  ostendente  ;  apertu- 
ra ovata-triangularis,  interdum  utioque  valde  expansa.  PI. — ,  fig.  — . 

Shell  discoidal,  attaining  a  large  size,  delicately  striated,  of  a  wa- 
tery white  color  ;  when  laid  upon  the  right  side,  the  shell  has  a 
remarkably  conical  or  dome-shaped  aspect,  the  extreme  periphery 
being  in  a  plane  with  the  right  side,  or  base,  from  which  the  whorl 
gradually  slopes  upwards,  terminating  at  the  summit  in  a  broad  and 
deep  concavity,  exhibiting  four  well  marked,  obtusely  angulated 
whorls  ;  the  right  side  is  decidedly  concave,  exhibiting  two  and  a 
half  or  three  well  rounded  volutions.  Aperture  ovate-triangular,  in 


24  H.  Doc.  129. 

middle-sized  specimens  projecting  about  equally  to  either  side,  in 
small  specimens  projecting  to  the  right  side  only,  and  in  the  largest, 
spreading  amply  to  both  sides,  and  especially  the  right,  where  it  ex- 
pands and  forms  a  remarkable  ear-shaped  aperture. 

Diameter  of  the  disk,  in  the  middle-sized  specimens,  five-eighths  of 
an  inch,  and  in  the  largest,  one  inch  ;  axial  dimater  of  the  first,  one- 
fourth  of  an  inch,  of  the  latter,  half  an  inch;  and  in  one  specimen 
the  breadth  of  the  aperture,  from  side  to  side,  is  five-eights  of  an  inch. 

Locality. — Found  in  the  Colorado  desert ;  and  also  by  Dr.  Webb. 

I  have  associated  specimens  differing  greatly  in  size  and  in  develop- 
ment of  the  aperture,  but  all  agreeing  in  the  peculiar  slope  of  the 
outer  volution,  giving  a  conical  outline  when  lying  on  the  side.  The 
fully  developed  specimens  have  the  general  aspect  of  P.  corpulentus, 
Say ;  but  besides  the  form  of  the  volution  and  the  consequent  shape 
of  the  aperture,  that  shell  is  more  coarsely  striated,  and  the  whorls 
on  the  right  side  lie  nearly  in  the  same  place,  and  on  the  left  side  but 
two  whorls  appear.  It  differs  from  P.  trivolois,  Say.,  in  nearly  the 
same  particulars.  In  external  surface  it  is  more  like  P.  glabratus,  Say. 

AMNICOLA  PROTEA,  Gould. 

T.  parva,  elongta,  gracilis  variabilus  ;  anfractibus  7-8  convexis, 
profunde",  discretis,  simplicibus,  vel  filis  volentibus  et  costis  longitu- 
dinalibus  varie  ornatis  et  clathratis  ;  apertura  ovata  ;  labro  continue , 
simplici,  anfracturn  penultimum  vix  attigente.  PI.  — ,  fig.  — . 

Shell  small,  turretted,  slender,  greatly  elongated,  chalky  white, 
(so  far  as  seen_,)  variously  proportioned,  composed  of  seven  or  eight 
whorls,  which  are  either  convexly  rounded  or  broadly  shouldered, 
and  separated  by  a  deep  suture — the  surface  either  smooth  through- 
out or  more  frequently  sculptured  with  revolving  threads  or  longitu- 
dinal ribs  or  decussated  by  both  in  various  proportions,  the  upper 
whorls  being  in  nearly  every  instance  decussated,  aperture  ovate,  lip 
simple,  continuous,  generally  detached  from,  or  scarcely  appressed  to 
the  penultimate  whorl,  in  many  instances  leaving  an  umbilical  chink. 

Largest  specimens  three-tenths  of  an  inch  long  and  half  an  inch 
broad. 

Found  in  the  Colorado  desert;  also  by  Dr.  T.  H.  Webb. 

This  species  is  peculiar  on  account  of  its  elongated,  slender  form, 
and  differs  from  the  other  species  of  the  genus  yet  described  in  being 
variously  sculptured  with  revolving  ridges  and  longitudinal  folds 
like  many  of  the  Melanise.  It  varies  greatly  also  in  its  relative  pro- 
portions of  length  and  breadth.  It  is  as  slender  as  A.  attenuata.,  Hal- 
deman,  and  much  larger. 

AMNICOLA  LONG1NQUA,  Gould. 

T.  parva,  elongato-ovata  Irevis,  apice  obtuso,  spirx  anfractibus 
quinque  rotundatis,  sutura  profunda  discretis:  apertura  elliptica. 
postice,  rotundata;  columella  profunde  arcuata.  PI.  — ,  fig.  — . 

Shell  small,  elongate  ovate,  horn-colored,  (or  blanched  chalky  white^) 
surface  quite  smaoth ;  apex  obtuse,  whorls  five,  well  rounded  and  sep- 


H.  Doc.  129. 

arated  by  a  deep  suture.  Aperture  elliptical,  broadly  rounded  poste- 
riorly; lip  simple,  copiously  incrusting  the  pillar  margin,  which  is 
profoundly  arcuate;  umbilical  region  nearly  perforate. 

Length  one-eighth  of  an  inch,  breadth  one-tenth  of  an  inch. 

Found  in  the  Colorado  desert. 

In  form  it  is  much  like  A.  Cincinnatiensls,  Haldeman.  or  like  A. 
galbana. 

II.  MARINE  SHELLS  FROM  THE  COAST. 

POTAMIS  PULLATUS,  Gould. 

Testa  turrita.  gracilis,  solida,  rudis  furco-cinerea;  anfract,  ad  10 
convexiusculis,  plicis  cerciter  10  convexiusculis,  arcuatis  compressis 
instructis,  et  filis  ad  5  volventibus  cinctis;  tribus  ultimis  varice 
munitis:  apertura  parva,  subcircularis,  nitide  rufo-nigra;  basi  vix 
effuso  et  contorto ;  labro  expanse.  PI.  — ,  fig.  — . 

Shell  elongated,  turreted,  slender,  solid,  rough,  and  dusky,  com- 
posed of  ten  closely  revolving  moderately  convex  whorls,  ornamented 
with  about  16  longitudinal  curved,  compressed  folds,  and  about  five 
revolving  threads,  which  usually  form  beads  where  they  crown  the 
folds;  the  three  anterior  whorls  are  fortified  with  a  strong  varix, 
about  two-thirds  of  a  volution  distant  from  each  other.  Aperture 
small,  nearly  circular,  slightly  produced  and  contorted  at  base,  very 
dark  and  glossy  liver-brown  within ;  lip  roundly  overted. 

Length  1^  inch,  breadth  two-fifths  of  an  inch. 

Locality. — Brought  from  San  Diego  by  Dr.  Tho.  H.  Webb  and 
Wm.  P.  Blake. 

This  shell  is  apparently  very  common,  and  yet  I  find  no  description 
answering  to  it.  From  P.  sacratum,  Gould,  it  may  be  distinguished 
by  its  small  and  dark  colored  aperture,  and  the  longitudinal  folds. 
It  is  much  like  P.  iostoma,  Pfeitter,  a  Cuban  species.  Some  of  the 
specimens  are  very  much  more  slender  than  others. 

PHASIANELLA  COMPTA,  Gould. 

Testa  parva,  solida,  ovato-conica,  imperforata,  polita,  cinerascens, 
lineis  minutis  oblique  volventibus  olivaceis  ornata;  spira  acuta;  an- 
fractibus  quatuor  rotundatis;  ultimo  ad  peripheriam  obtuse  angulato, 
et  interdum  tessellatem  fasciato  :  apertura  circularis;  labro  tenui,  alvo; 
columella  alba,  compressa;  faucibus  callo  albo  incrassatis.  PI.  — , 
fig.—. 

Shell  small,  solid,  ovate,  imperforate,  smooth  and  shining,  ashy 
white,  minutely  and  closely  lineated  in  an  obliquely  spiral  manner 
with  olive  green.  Whorls  four,  well  rounded,  forming  an  acute  spire, 
the  outer  one  obstusely  angular  at  periphery,  where  there  is  some- 
times a  delicate  catenated  range  of  white  and  olive  spots,  aperture 
nearly  circular;  lip  very  thin,  showing  the  lineations  on  the  inner 
margin;  throat  coated  with  bluish  white  enamel;  pillar  flattened; 
white.  Operculuni  patelliform,  ivory-like,  the  outer  convex  surface 
marbled  black  and  white;  the  inner  surface  black.  PI.  — ,  fig.  — . 

Length  one-fourth  of  an  inch;  diameter  one-fifth  of  an  inch. 


26  H.  Doc,  129. 

Locality. — Found  at  San  Diego  by  Mr.  Blake  and  also  by  Mr.  Webb. 

This  pretty  little  shell  is  usually  more  or  less  coated  with  cretaceous 
matters,  but  when  cleaned  exhibit  a  beautifully  lineated  surface,  pe- 
culiar on  account  of  the  lines  running  so  nearly  in  the  ordinary  direc- 
tion of  revolving  stria3.  The  coloration,  however,  sometimes  consists 
of  olive  and  white  tessellations  and  blotches.  It  would  accord  pretty 
well  with  P.  perforata,  Philippi,  did  it  not  lack  the  distinguishing 
mark  of  that  species,  its  perforation. 

BULLA  (TORNATINA)  INCULTA,  Gould. 

Testa  minuta,  solidula  eburnea  elongato-ovalis,  longitudinaliter 
minutessime  striata;  spiraelevata;  anfractibus  quatuor  tabulatis;  aper- 
tura  linearis,  octantes,  septem  lorigitudines  testae  adequans,  antice 
dilatata,  postice  rotundata;  labro  incurvato;  columella  satis  arcuata,, 
callossa  uniplicata.  PI.  — ,  fig.  — . 

Shell  minute,  solid,  ivory  white,  elongated-oval,  minutely  striated 
longitudinally;  spire  elevated,  consisting  of  about  four  tabulated 
whorls.  Aperture  about  seven-eighths  the  length  }f  the  shell,  not 
attaining  the  end  of  the  outer  whorl,  linear,  constricted  at  the  middle 
and  somewhat  dilated  anteriorly,  posterior  angle  rounded;  pillar  mod- 
erately arcuate,  usually  presenting  a  well  marked  fold  at  the  anterior 
fourth  and  well  coated  with  enamel. 

Length  one-eighth;  breadth  one-twelfth  of  an  inch. 

Locality. — San  Diego. 

May  be  best  compared  with  B.  fusiformis,  A.  Adams,  and  is  also 
very  closely  allied  to  B.  obstincta,  Gould.  The  spire  varies  much  in 
elevation,  sometimes,  indeed,  being  on  a  level  with  the  outer  whorl. 
The  form  of  the  whorl  shell  is  also  more  or  less  cylindrical. 

BULLA  (HAMINEA)  VESICULA,  Gould. 

Testa  parva,  fragilis  ovato-globosa,  palide  citrina,  postice  truncata; 
apertura  spiram  superans,  longitudene  duplo  adequans,  antice  et  pos- 
tice bene  rotundata;  columella  profund£  arcuta,  vix  callosa.  PL  — , 
fig.  — . 

Shell  small,  fragile,  ovate  globose,  pale  greenish  yellow;  body  of 
the  shell  small,  truncate  at  summit;  outer  whorl  large;  aperture  about 
twice  the  length  of  the  body  of  the  shell,  and  projecting  above  it, 
broadly  rounded  both  posteriorly  and  anteriorly;  outer  lip  inflexed 
at  the  middle;  pillar  profoundly  arcuate,  with  a  narrow  delicate 
callus. 

Length  ;  breadth 

Locality. — Brought  from  San  Diego  by  Mr.  Blake. 

It  has  about  the  size  and  general  appearance  of  B.  rotounda,  A. 
Adams,  but  has  not  so  large  a  body,  and  is  more  open  anteriorly;  in 
this  latter  respect  it  is  more  like  B.  Natalensis,  a  much  larger  shell. 

CARDIUM  CRUENTATUM,  Gould. 

Testa  parva,  tenuis,  transversim  rotundato-ovata,  rentricosa,  in- 
equilateralis,  polita,  straminea,  ad  aream  dorsalem  posticam  rufo 


H.  Doc.  129.  27 

tincta,  lineis  radiantibus  crebsis  vix  insculpta  ;  umbonibus  eminent- 
ibus  obtusis ;  extremitatibus  rotundatis,  rufo,  biradiatis ;  intus  citrina, 
sanguineo  conspersa;  margine  argente  crenulato.  PL  — ,  fig.  — . 

Shell  small,  thin  inequilateral,  rounded  ovate,  moderately  ventri- 
cose,  surface  smooth  and  shining,  with  very  delicate  lines  of  growth, 
and  numerous,  indistinct,  radiating  strise,  more  distinct  posteriorly 
and  near  the  margin  ;  anterior  and  broadly  rounded  ;  posterior  end 
narrowed,  semi-rhomboidal,  the  dorsal  mar  gin  rather  rapidly  declining; 
color  pale  lemon,  or  straw-color,  somewhat  discolored  or  blotched 
with  rufous,  the  beaks  biradiate  with  brown,  and  the  posterior  dorsal 
area  brownish  ;  interior  bright  lemon-color,  beautifully  stained  with 
dark  liver-brown,  especially  near  the  beaks  and  posteriorly  ;  inner 
margin  minutely  crenulated.  Height  and  length  five-eighths  of  an 
inch  ;  breadth  three-eighths  of  an  inch. 

Locality. — Inhabits  San  Pedro. —  Win.  P.  Blake. 

Compared  with  C.  Elenense,  Sowb.,  it  is  much  less  elevated  and 
differently  colored,  though  the  general  characters  are  very  closely 
allied.  It  is  more  like  C.  Mortoni,  Con.,  but  is  less  solid,  more  inequi- 
lateral, less  truncate  posteriorly  and  more  freely  colored  within,  and 
the  internal  margin  in  that  shell  is  not  crenulated. 

TAPES  GRACILIS,  Gould. 

Testa  parva,  tenuis,  inequilateralis,  elongato-ovata,  albida,  obsolete, 
fusco  radiata,  ad  aream  dorsalem  posticam  fuscata,  concentrice,  strio- 
lata;  extremitatibus  rotundatis,  extr.  antico  acutiore ;  intus  Candida. 
PI.  -  fig. -. 

Shell  small,  thin,  transversely  elongate-ovate,  rather  compressed, 
beaks,  at  the  anterior  third,  whitish,  with  traces  of  dusky  radiations 
on  the  disks,  and  clouded  with  dusky  or  the  dorsal  areas  ;  surface 
with  very  fine  concentric  lines  of  growth,  coarser  at  the  ends ;  extrem- 
ities rounded,  the  posterior  somewhat  obliquely,  the  anterior  narrower 
and  somewhat  more  acute  ;  anterior  dorsal  area  depressed,  without 
any  line  of  demarcation  ;  interior  white. 

Length  three-fourths  of  an  inch  ;  height  half  an  inch  ;  breadth  an 
eighth. 

Locality. — Brought  from  San  Pedro  by  Mr.  Blake. 

Belongs  to  the  group  with  T.  Florida  and  geographica,  but  in  less 
inequilateral  and  less  angular  than  those  shells.  It  may  grow 
much  larger  than  the  present  specimen,  and  is  pretty  certain  to  vary 
in  coloring. 

'  In  addition  to  the  preceding  are  two  or  three  species  left  undeter- 
mined in  consequence  of  imperfect  specimens,  or  because  the  characters 
are  not  sufficiently  marked  to  render  their  novelty  decisive.  The 
following  remarks  may  be  added  in  regard  to  some  of  these : 

(1.)  MYTILUS  EDULIS,  or  very  closely  allied.  It  seems  to  differ  in 
having  the  dorsal  angle  at  a  greater  distance  from  the  beak — the  pos- 
terior dorsal  slope  more  rapidly  declining  and  more  curved,  as  in  M. 
hamatus — the  interior  more  pearly,  and  the  margin  more  uniformly 
deep  black. 

Locality. — San  Francisco. —  W.  P.  Blake. 


28  H.  Doc.  129. 

(2.)  OSTREA. — A  small  parasitic  Oyster,  on  twigs,  probably  of  G-or- 
gonia,  usually  projecting  equally  to  either  side.  The  form  is  ellipti- 
cal, the  under  valve  having  a  groove  for  the  twig,  with  a  corresponding 
eminence  in  the  upper  valve ;  sometimes  it  adheres  by  but  one  edge, 
and  then  assumes  an  oblique,  alate  form,  like  Avicula.  It  ^is  quite 
thin,  lineated,  radiately  ornamented  with  fascicles  of  brown  lines. 

Locality. — San  Diego. —  W.  P.  Blake. 

Another  oyster  from  San  Diego,  about  two  inches  long,  narrow  and 
moderately  widening,  slightly  sigmoid  in  form,  its  margins  simple  and 
the  extremity  somewhat  truncate  and  undulate  or  dentate,  with  by 
four  or  five  radiating  grooves;  shell  compact,  upper  valve  purplish. 
It  occurs  in  clusters  intimately  grouped,  much  like  the  parasitic 
oysters  of  Carolina,  but  more  elongate,  less  degitate  at  the  end,  less 
cavernous  under  the  beak,  and  less  black  within. 

Locality. — San  Diego. —  IV.  P.  Blake. 

(3.)  PECTEN. — A  large  turgid  species,  like  P.  gibbus  or  purpuratus, 
and  no  doubt  described.  It  has  about  twenty  ribs,  which  are  square 
and  a  little  broader  than  the  interspaces,  which  are  scaly. 

Locality. — San  Diego. —  W.  P.  Blake. 


ARTICLE   III. 

NOTES  UPON  SILICIFIED  PLANTS  FOUND  FOSSIL  IN  CALIFORNIA  BY 
W.  P.  BLAKE,  GEOLOGIST  OF  THE  EXPEDITION  UNDER  THE  COM- 
MAND OF  LIEUTENANT  R.  S.  WILLIAMSON. 

Among  the  boulders  of  syenite,  greenstone,  and  similar  rocks  piled 
in  confusion  along  the  banks  of  Kern  river,  a  short  distance  below  the 
ford ;  I  found  a  mass  of  yellow  rock,  siliceous  and  jasper y  in  its  char- 
acter, that  was  filled  with  silicified  fossil  stems,  traversing  it  in  every 
direction.  These  stems  were  so  completely  preserved  that  every  cell 
and  tube  was  distinctly  visible,  and  the  cross  fracture  showed  the  or- 
ganization beautifully.  The  diameter  of  the  stems  is  about  half  of 
an  inch,  and  they  vary  in  length  from  one  to  three  inches  and  more  ; 
but  they  could  not  be  detached  from  the  rock  except  in  fragments. 

The  boulder  containing  these  beautiful  fossils  was  about  18  inches 
in  diameter,  and  numerous  specimens  were  procured  from  it.  It  must 
have  been  transported  from  the  head  waters  of  the  river,  or  from  the 
sedimentary  beds  a  short  distance  above,  having  been  broken  out  b}r 
the  undermining  action  of  the  stream.  It  is  very  desirable  that  the 
original  locality  of  these  fossils  should  be  discovered  and  their  geolo- 
gical associations  made  known. 

It  is  probable  that  the  examination  of  the  rock  in  situ  would  de- 
velop many  interesting  forms  not  found  in  these  transported  masses. 

Similar  fossils  were  afterwards  found  "in  place"  near  the  summit 
of  the  Sierra  Nevada, [in  the  pass  called  the  Canada  de  las  Uvas.  They 
were  on  the  eastern  slope,  and,  therefore,  within  the  limits  of  the 


H.  Doc.  129.  29 

Great  Basin.  They  constitute  beds,  with  a  combined  thickness  of 
several  feet,  lying  interstratified  conformably  with  sandstone  strata, 
probably  of  tertiary  age.  These  beds  are  almost  wholly  composed  of 
these  stems,  closely  matted  together  and  twisted  in  various  directions. 
The  color  of  the  fossils  is  very  different  from  those  on  the  banks  of 
Kern  river,  being  a  light  blueish-grey,  while  the  former  are  yellow 
or  drab.  Their  size  is  also  different ;  but  in  the  appearance  and  char- 
acteristics of  their  organization,  as  shown  by  a  cross  fracture,  they 
appear  to  be  identical.  It  is  evident  that  the  Kern  river  boulder  was 
not  derived  from  this  locality,  and  that  another  deposit  must  exist. 

Specimens  from  Kern  river  have  been  ground  down  and  polished  by 
a  lapidary,  and  the  internal  structure  is  beautifully  displayed  by 
them.*  These  specimens,  and  others  from  the  Great  Basin,  were 
submitted  to  Professor  J.  W.  Bailey,  of  the  United  States  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point,  who  has  kindly  examined  them  microscopi- 
cally, and  has  drawn  an  elaborate  figure  showing  their  structure. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  his  letter  accompanying  the  drawing : 

WEST  POINT,  New  York,  March  22,  1855. 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  send  herewith  a  sketch  of  the  structure  of  the  fossil 
plant  from  the  boulder  in  the  bed  of  Kern  river,  (west  slope  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada.) 

The  plants,  as  far  as  I  can  make  out  the  structure,  are  annual 
shoots  of  an  exogenous  structure,  presenting  a  distinct  pith,  (p.  in  the 
drawings)  ;  medullary  rays  (r)  ;  a  layer  of  liber  (1)  ;  and  a  'loose 
succulent  bark  (b),  having  large  lacunas  (la).  In  the  outer  portion  of 
the  wood  a  series  of  large  vessels,  v  1  ;  of  smaller,  v  2  ;  and  of  still 
smaller  ones,  v  3,  are  placed.  I  could  not  detect  upon  these  vessels 
any  indications  of  spiral  or  dot. 

The  specimens  from  the  east  slope  of  the  Sierra  agree  in  all  essen- 
tial points  with  the  above,  the  only  difference  noticed  being  the  devel- 
opment of  a  few  large  vessels  surrounded  with  woody  fibre  within  the 
pithy  portion. 

I  cannot  venture  with  the  limited  data  furnished  above  to  form  any 
opinion  upon  the  affinities  of  these  plants. 

The  vertical  section,  fig.  1,  is  made  up  from  observations  of  various 
splinters  from  different  parts  of  the  plants  which  I  encased  in  Canada 
balsam.  The  horizontal  section,  fig.  2,  is  from  the  section  made  by 
the  lapidary  in  New  York,  which  I  afterwards  rubbed  down  to  half 
the  thickness  the  lapidary  tad  given.  The  section  thus  obtained  was 
as  perfect  as  if  from  a  recent  plant.  It  showed  the  cells  filled  with 
transparent  silica,  and  in  the  larger  lacunas  the  arrangement  of  the- 
silica  into  small  spherical  agates  was  distinctly  visible. 
Yours,  very  respectfully, 

J.  W.  BAILEY. 

W.  P.  BLAKE,  Esq.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

*  Several  other  sections  of  these  fossils  are  being  prepared,  and  the  results  of  their  examin 
ation  will  be  presented  in  the  final  report. 


30  H.  Doc.  129. 


ARTICLE   IV. 

NOTICE  OF  THE  FOSSIL  FISHES  FOUND  IN  CALIFORNIA  BY  WILLIAM  P. 
BLAKE,  GEOLOGIST  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  PACIFIC  RAILROAD  SUR- 
VEY UNDER  THE  COMMAND  OF  LIEUTENANT  R.  S.  WILLIAMSON, 
UNITED  STATES  TOPOGRAPHICAL  ENGINEERS;  BY  LOUIS  AGASSIZ. 


Most  of  the  fossil  remains  of  fishes  placed  in  my  hands  by  Mr. 
Blake  for  examination  and  identification  belong  to  the  family  of 
sharks,  one  belongs  to  that  of  skates,  and  another  is  remotely  allied 
to  the  family  of  mackerels.  No  fossil  sharks'  teeth  having  been  found 
west  of  the  Rocky  mountains  before,  the  discovery  by  Mr.  Blake  of  a 
variety  of  species  belonging  to  several  genera  of  the  family  of  sharks 
constitutes  one  of  the  most  interesting  additions  to  our  knowledge 
that  could  have  been  obtained  from  that  quarter,  and  the  importance 
of  these  fossils  to  science  is  further  enhanced  by  the  peculiar  relations 
they  bear  to  similar  fossils  found  in  the  Atlantic  States  and  in  Europe 
and  to  the  sharks  now  living  along  the  shores  of  the  old  and  of  the 
new  world. 

ECHINORHINUS,  Blainv. 

1.  E.  BLAKEI,  Agassiz,  pi.  — ,  fig. — .  The  most  interesting  and  import- 
ant discovery  since  the  publication  of  the  Poissons  Fossiles  is  that  of 
the  tooth  of  the  genus  Echinorhinus,  in  the  tertiary  deposits  of  Ocoya 
creek,  (Pose  creek,)  at  the  western  base  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  Cali- 
fornia. The  genus  Echinorhinus  was  founded  by  Blainville  for  the 
Squalus  spinosus  of  Linnaeus,  the  only  species,  of  the  genus  thus  far 
known  which  inhabits  the  Mediterranean  and  the  European  and 
African  coasts  of  the  Atlantic. 

I  figured  the  teeth  of  the  same  genus  under  the  name  of  Goniodus 
for  the  same  species,  (see  Poissons  Fossiles,  vol.  iii,  p.  94,  pi.  E,  fig. 
13,)  so  that  this  name  must  give  way  to  the  Echinorhinus  of  Blain- 
ville. 

The  discovery  of  a  fossil  species  of  this  genus  in  the  tertiaries  of 
the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  is  not  only  important  as  carry- 
ing back  this  curious  type  of  sharks  to  a  period  older  than  ours,  but 
also  in  disclosing  the  existence  upon  the  American  continent  of  types 
in  a  fossil  state  known  in  the  old  world  only  among  the  living.  The 
fossil  species  of  Echinorhinus  differs  from  the  living,  having  the  main 
point  of  the  tooth  more  prominent,  and  at  the  same  time  shorter,  an 
appearance  which  arises  from  the  less  prominence  of  the  marginal 
denticles.  This  difference  may  be  distinctly  seen  by  comparing  the 
figures  pi.  — ,  with  those  of  the  living  species  given  in  Poissons  Fos- 
siles, pi.  E,  fig.  13. 

SCYMNUS,  Cue. 

2.  s.  OCCIDENTALIS,  Agassiz. — The  few  species  upon  which  Cuvier 
founded  the  genus  Scymnus  have  been  of  late  subdivided  by  M Ciller 
and  Henle  into  two  genera :  Scymnus  proper,  and  Lcemargus ;  all  of 


H.  Doc.  129.  31 

which  are  only  known  among  the  living.  It  is  another  of  the  highly  in- 
teresting discoveries  of  Mr.  Blake,  to  have  brought  home  two  teeth  from 
the  tertiaries  of  California  belonging  to  this  remarkable  type.  I  would 
even  not  hesitate  to  consider  them  as  indicating  a  distinct  genus,  were 
the  number  of  specimens  sufficient  to  warrant  the  inference  that  the 
teeth  present,  in  every  position  of  the  mouth,  as  great  a  difference  from 
the  Scymnus  and  Lrernargus  as  the  two  latter  present  when  compared 
with  one  another.  At  all  events,  the  teeth  belong  to  the  genus 
Scymnus,  as  established  by  Cuvier,  and  it  constitutes  a  very  distinct 
species  on  account  of  the  strong  bend  backwards  of  the  main  point  of 
the  tooth,  and  the  distinct  and  rather  marked  serration  of  the  edges 
of  the  crown.  Moreover,  the  inclination  of  the  central  point  upon  its 
basis  gives  these  teeth  a  certain  resemblance  with  those  of  Spinex  and 
Centrophorus,  and  still  more  with  Galeocerdo.  The  connexion  of  the 
teeth  of  the  same  row  of  the  jaw  with  one  another,  was  evidently  the 
same  as  in  the  Scymnus  and  Lsemargus,  as  is  plainly  shown  by  the 
notch  upon  the  inner  surface  of  the  root,  and  the  articulating  tubercle 
at  the  base  of  the  enamel  in  both  sides. 

The  discovery  of  a  fossil  Scymnus  in  the  tertiaries  of  California  is 
particularly  interesting  in  a  geographical  point  of  view,  since  thus 
far  no  representative  of  the  type  has  been  found  in  the  Pacific  ocean. 

GALEOCERDO,  Miiller  and  Henle. 

3.  G.  PRODUCTUS,  Agass. — Two  species  only  of  living  Galeocerdo 
have  been  known  thus  far — one  from  the  Indian  ocean  and  one 
from  the  Atlantic.  The  fossil  species  have  been  traced  from  the  chalk 
to  the  upper  tertiaries. 

The  Atlantic  States  have  already  yielded  satisfactory  indications  of 
the  presence  of  this  genus  during  the  tertiary  period,  on  the  eastern 
coast  of  America.  Now  we  receive  from  the  collection  of  Mr.  Blake 
a  new  addition  to  the  range  of  this  remarkable  genus.  The  new 
species  he  has  discovered  resembles  so  closely  the  Galeocerdo  Adoncus 
from  the  Eocene  of  Europe,  especially  common  in-  the  Molasse  of 
Switzerland,  that  were  there  not  several  specimens  in  the  collection 
agreeing  with  one  another  in  every  respect,  and  unitedly  differing 
from  those  in  the  Old  World,  I  would  have  been  at  a  loss  to  distin- 
guish them.  The  California  species  differ  chiefly  from  the  European 
in  having  the  anterior  margin  of  the  tooth  less  arched,  with  much 
more  minute  crenulations,  and  the  serraturcs  on  the  basilar  margin 
rather  smaller. 

PRIONODON,  Miiller  and  Henle. 

4.  p.  AXTIQUUS,  Agas. — Thus  far  no  fossil  shark  of  the  tribe  of  Car- 
charias  has  been  known  among  the  fossils,  and,  as  shown  in  the  Pois- 
son  Fossiles,  all  the  species  formerly  referred  to  the  genus  Carcharias 
have  been  ascertained  to  belong  to  the  genus  Carcharodon.  Few  dis- 
coveries in  this  field  could,  therefore,  be  of  more  interest  than  finding 
among  the  tertiaries  of  Ocoya  creek  a  number  of  teeth  agreeing  in  the 
deep  notch  upon  the  base  of  the  root,  but  differing  in  their  width  as 
well  as  in  the  shape  of  their  edge  ;  belonging  evidently  to  the  genus 


32  H.  Doc.  129. 

Prionodon  of  Miiller  and  Henle.  The  larger  and  broader  ones  having 
the  edges  serrated,  especially  near  the  base,  while  the  narrower  ones 
are  smooth  and  sharp.  These  differences  correspond  exactly  to  the 
differences  observed  by  Miiller  and  Henle  between  the  teeth  of  the 
upper  and  lower  jaw  in  some  species  of  the  genus  Prionodon.  A 
transverse  section  of  the  fossil  under  consideration  shows,  moreover, 
these  teeth  to  have  a  central  cavity,  as  in  those  of  the  whole  tribe  of 
Carcharias.  There  can,  therefore,  be  no  doubt  that  we  have  here  the 
first  instance  of  a  fossil  species  of  the  type  of  Carcharias  of  the  genus 
Prionodon,  which  it  will  be  possible,  under  all  circumstances,  to  dis- 
tinguish from  Sphyrna  by  the  difference  in  the  shape  and  serrature  of 
the  teeth  in  the  upper  and  lower  jaw  The  species  may  be  designated 
under  the  name  of  Prionodon  antiquus. 

My  Galeocerdo  denticulatis,  from  Maestricht,  may,  however,  belong 
to  this  genus.  The  tooth  of  this  species  being  rather  erect,  while  in 
Galeocerdo  the  crown  of  the  tooth  is  bent  backward,  and  its  posterior 
margin  is  deeply  notched.  In  Prionodon  antiquus,  as  well  as  in  G. 
denticulatus,  the  crown  is  but  slightly  inclined  backwards,  and  though 
it  tapers  rapidly  to  a  conical  point,  that  point  does  not  stand  so  dis- 
tinctly out  from  its  base  as  in  true  Galeocerdo. 

HEMIPRISTIS,  Agass. 

5.  H.  HETEROPLEURUS,  Agass. — The  genus   Hemipristis  was   estab- 
lished by  me  from  fossil  teeth  of  the  middle  tertiaries  of  Europe.     Dr. 
R.  W.  Gibbes  has  since  indicated  their  existence  among  the  tertiaries 
of  the  Atlantic  shores  of  America,  and  now  we  owe  to  Mr.  Blake  the 
discovery  of  a  tooth  of  this  genus  in  the  deposits  of  Ocoya  creek,  Cali- 
fornia. 

I  have  already  remarked  how  difficult  it  is  to  perceive  the  difference 
existing  between  Galeocerdo  Adoncus  of  Europe,  and  the  species  of 
that  genus  existing  in  California.  I  am  still  more  doubtful  about  the 
propriety  of  distinguishing  the  species  Hemipristis  of  the  west  from 
those  of  Europe.  It  would  seem  extraordinary,  however,  to  find  the 
same  species  of  sharks  extending  from  the  Pacific  coast  of  this  conti- 
nent to  central  Europe,  especially  when  we  find,  upon  closer  examina- 
tion, our  living  sharks  more  closely  circumscribed  within  narrow  lim- 
its than  was  formerly  supposed.  And  yet  all  the  differences  I  per- 
ceive between  the  Hemipristis  of  California  and  those  of  Europe  con- 
sist in  a  marked  inequality  between  the  serrature  of  the  hinder  margin 
when  compared  with  that  of  the  anterior  margin  of  the  tooth.  As 
this  may  be  found  to  be  a  constant  character,  I  would  introduce  the 
western  species  provisionally,  under  the  name  of  H.  heteropleurus,  or 
until  the  discovery  of  more  specimens  decides  whether  this  difference 
in  the  serrature  of  the  margin  of  the  inner  sides  of  the  teeth  is  con- 
stant or  not. 

CARCHARODON,  Smith. 

6.  c.  R.ECTUS,  Agass. — Of  all  the  types  of  sharks'  teeth  that  of  Car- 
charodon,  next  to  Lamna  and  Oxyrhina,  is  the  most  numerous  in  the 
tertiary  deposits,  though  there  is  only  one  living  species  known. 


H.  Doc.  129.  33 

Mr.  Blake  has  brought  a  finely  preserved  specimen  of  a  medium 
sized  species  of  this  genus  from  California.  Rather  smaller  than 
Ciircharodon  angustidens,  the  tooth  has  the  same  form  as  that  species, 
only  that  there  are  no  accessory  points  upon  the  sides  of  the  hase. 
Considering  its  size  this  tooth  is  remarkable  for  its  thickness,  and  in 
that  respect  it  reminds  one  more  of  Garcharodon  angustidens  than  any 
other  species.  The  surface  is  flat  and  the  tooth  straight,  as  in 
C.  anyustidens,  and  to  this  character  the  name  rectus  is  intended  to 
allude. 

Several  species  of  this  genus  have  been  described  by  Dr.  R.  W. 
Gibbes  as  occurring  in  the  tertiary  of  the  Atlantic  slope. 

OXYRHINA,  Jlgassiz. 

7.  o.  PLANA,  Agas. — Since  the   teeth  of  Oxyrhina  are  known  to 
differ  in  size  so  widely  as  they  do  in  the  different  parts  of  the  jaws, 
nothing  is  more  difficult  than  ta  combine  fossil  teeth  found  separated 
in  sucli  a  manner  as  to  leave  no  doubt  about  their  specific  identity. 
Several  teeth  of  a  very  interesting  species  of  Oxyrhina  are  found 
among  the  specimens  of  fossils  brought  by  Mr.  Blake  from  California, 

and  its  resemblance  to  the  0. of  the  Mediterranean  is  very 

striking.     But  the  character  by  which  they  differ  most  strikingly 
from  the  living  species  and  the  fossils  already  described  consist  in  the 
greater  flatness  of  the  teeth  as  compared  with  their  width.     Some  of 
them  are  straight,  and  others  slightly  bent  backward.     This  species  I 
propose  to  name  0.  plo.na. 

Several    species    of    this    genus    have    been    described  from   the 
Atlantic  States  by  Dr.  R.  W.  Gibbes. 

8.  o.  TUMULA,    Agas. — The   existence  of  a  second  species  of  the 
genus  Oxyrhina  in  the  tertiary  of  California  is  indicated  by  several 
teeth  remarkable  for  the  size  and  thickness  of  the  roots  as  compared 
with  the  lengths  of  their  curves.     The  specimens  agreeing  in  this 
character  differ  greatly  in  size,  and  yet  not  more  so  than  may  be  seen 
in  the  same  jaw  of  our  living  species. 

Found  with  the  preceding  by  Mr.  Blake. 

LAMNA. 

9.  L.  CLAVATA,   Agas. — Two  teeth  from  Ocoya  creek  indicate  the 
existence  in  California  of  a  species  of  Lamna  allied  to  L.  cuspidata  of 
the  European  Miocene,  from  which  it  differs,  however,  by  its  smaller 
size,  its  shorter  and  narrower  crown,  in  which  respect  it  agrees  more 
with  L.  Hopei  of  Sheppy.     The  crown,  however,  is  less  arched  than 
the  latter.     The  posterior  surface  is  smooth  as  in  L.  cuspidata. 

Found  with  the  preceding  in  the  tertiary  formation  of  Ocoya  creek. 

10.  L.  ORXATA,  Agass. — A  second  species  of  Lamna  has  been  brought 
from  California  by  Mr.  Blake.     It  occurs  in  the  sandstone  of  Navy 
Point,  Benicia,  and  is  allied  to  L,  elegans,  Agass.     (See  Recherches 
des  Poissons  Fossiles,   vol.   iii,  p.   289.)     It  is,  however,  a  smaller 
species,  and  tapers  more  gradually,  while  in  L.  elegans  it  tapers  more 

3 


34  H.  Doc.  129. 

suddenly  near  the  top,  and  the  folds  of  the  enamel  on  the  inner  side 
of  the  tooth  are  coarser.  The  base  of  the  tooth  is  more  compressed 
than  in  L.  elegans,  in  which  respect  the  tooth  resembles  more  L. 
acuminata. 

The  small  tooth  found  with  the  specimen  may  be  one  of  the  lateral 
teeth  of  the  same  species;  but  it  is  difficult  to  determine  this  without 
a  microscopical  examination  of  its  structure.  These  fossils  are  un- 
questionably of  tertiary  age.  L.  elegans  is  found  in  the  Calcaire 
grossier  in  the  environs  of  Paris,  and  in  the  London  clay  at  Sheppy. 
The  same  species  is  also  found  fossil  in  the  Crag,  having  been  trans- 
ported with  the  remains  of  many  other  species  from  the  London  clay. 
Several  species  of  this  genus  have  been  described  from  the  Atlantic 
States  by  Dr.  R.  W.  Gibbes. 

ZYGOBATES,  Jgass. 

11.  z.  ? — A  fragment  of  a  tooth  of  the  genus  zygobates  is 

interesting  inasmuch  as  it  shows  that  this  genus  of  the  order  of  the 
family  of  skates,  with  pavement-like  teeth,  to  have  occurred  in  Cali- 
fornia during  the  tertiary  period  ;  though  the  fragment  of  the  tooth 
before  me  is  too  imperfect  to  allow  the  species  to  be  identified.  It 
may  not  be  out  of  place  to  remark  that  no  species  of  this  genus,  or 
the  allied  genera  Einoptera,  .ZEtobates,  or  Myliobates  have  thus  far 
been  found  in  the  Pacific  ocean. 

Several  fragments  of  bone  found  with  the  teeth  at  Ocoya  creek 
(Pose  creek)  belong  to  the  family  of  Scomberoides,  but  are  too  imper- 
fect to  admit  of  beinsr  identified. 


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